Exclusive: two thirds of onshore windfarms blocked following Pickles’ lead

Onshore windfarm consent rates have plummeted in the wake of interventions by communities secretary Eric Pickles, figures obtained by Utility Week show.

Councils refused more than two thirds of onshore windfarm plans in mainland Britain in the first five months of 2014, in a reversal of typical approval rates.

Local planning authorities approved just 33 per cent of applications in England, 30 per cent in Scotland and 29 per cent in Wales from January to May, according to Renewable UK figures. By comparison, between 2010 and 2013, approval rates hovered around 60 to 70 per cent.

Jennifer Webber, head of external affairs at Renewable UK, attributed the slump to the messages coming from Pickles’ department. “Around each application there will be people who oppose it,” she said, “but I cannot see a good reason for that to have gone up substantially in the periods we are talking about.”

Local authorities’ tougher stance on windfarm plans follows guidance published by the Department for Communities and Local Government last July.

Since October, Pickles has personally intervened to make sure councils are heeding that guidance, calling in 39 plans. Of 13 rulings to date, Pickles has blocked 11 windfarms – in 5 cases against the advice of planning inspectors.

Renewable UK said Pickles was “going too far” and overriding local democracy. Webber added: “We want [the planning system] to be timely and predictable and at the moment it is neither.”

Communities minister Kris Hopkins said: “Inappropriately sited wind turbines can be a blot on the landscape, harming the local environment and damaging heritage for miles around. We make no apologies for changing planning guidance to ensure that these issues are properly taken into account.”

Pickles retains the power to call in renewable energy plans until next April.